Does anyone know the laws on photographing wildlife

[Paul mabbott]

Funny how a question about 'wildlife' concentrates on birds

Originally Posted by Hawk

Can anyone help me? Do you if there are laws with photographing wildlife Im ...........

Yes, there are laws about disturbing nesting birds and others. There are also laws about harming other animals and, indeed, plants. Photographers, especially birders, often suffer tunnel vision - in seeking birdy subjects they trample over plants, disturb insects, frighten mammals, contribute to the destruction of whole habitats. (Yes, I've seen plant photographers sitting on a bunch of orchids to photograph something else but usually they are more aware of the habitat).

So there should be no problems with photographing wildlife if you're aware of potential harm to the subject and its environment. Same laws apply to anyone, with or without a camera ....

[FlyAgaric]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Someone was recently arrested recently for trying to take pics of an osprey at the nest
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/le51_tcm9-148742.pdf

Thanks for that. I was talking in general. But climbing up a tree or cliff face and disturbing rare birds and risking their well being is stupidity and worthy of arrest in my view.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Someone was recently arrested recently for trying to take pics of an osprey at the nest
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/le51_tcm9-148742.pdf

That was Scottish - does the same apply in England ??

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

That was Scottish - does the same apply in England ??

Yep, England Scotland and Wales are all covered by the Wildlife and Countryside act and the schedule 1 species list is the same for all three. I'm not sure about Northern Ireland but wouldn't be at all surprised if it applied there too.

Dave P.

[Paul mabbott]

[One would hope that most genuine members of this forum (and let's not forget that people may join WAB and other fora just to get information on 'collectibles' so we should be circumspect when discussing sensitive sites) would not be chasing after photos without consideration of the broader habitat.]

On SSSIs and private property, theoretically, all organisms are protected - on SSSIs by law, in the latter by land-ownership - therefore anyone treading on a rare or endangered plant (or even insect?) could be liable to prosecution. It's unlikely and would be difficult to prove (unless someone videos you trampling through a patch of endangered orchids, for instance) but it's a real threat and we should all be aware of it - and we should be taking care of the plants and insects even though our eyes might be on larger organisms!

[Blackbrook Eye]

My local reservoir, Blackbrook, is a SSSI site owned by Severn Trent Water Authority.
When the land for the reservoir was purchased, the original landowner retained the 'Sporting Rights' and to this day beaters drive for game around the margins trampling all in their path during the shooting season, how does this stand up in the spirit of SSSI status. All others are actively excluded from access, unless they pay for fishing rights to a closed syndicate.

[Blackbrook Eye]

My local reservoir 'Blackbrook' is a SSSI owned and managed by Severn Trent Water Authority.
When the land for the reservoir was purchased, the original landowner retained the sporting rights and to this day the local shoot beats the margins for game, trampling all in their path, the fishing is controlled by a closed consortium, all others are actively excluded access, the SSSI status is based on the rare plants growing in and arround the site. How does this stand for a protected SSSI